Italy

Campari Spritz

Also known as Spritz Campari, Campari Soda Spritz

A bitter, bubbly aperitif that wakes up your palate before a meal.

bitteraperitiforangebubblylow-abvherbalrefreshingitalian

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits with Campari's bright orange and bitter herbs, mellowed out by the soft fruit of the Prosecco. The middle is crisp and slightly sweet, while the finish dries out with a lingering, pleasant bitterness.

Who will like it

For people who like bitter-sweet, low-alcohol drinks with a lot of fizz.

When to drink

Drink this right before dinner to get your appetite going, or on a hot afternoon when you want something light.

Ordering tip

Ask for it with extra soda if you want it drier, or a bit more Prosecco if you want it lighter and less bitter.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: HighballBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a drink built on the push and pull between bitter herbs and soft sweetness. It is light in the glass, with a dry, bubbly texture that washes the palate clean. The bitterness hangs around after the sip, making you want another taste.

Finish: The finish is dry and lingering, with orange oil and bitter herbs sticking to the tongue.

Primary tastes

bittersweetherbal

Secondary

fruityfloral

Aroma

orange peelbitter herbswhite wine

Bitternessfairly bitter
Campari brings a strong, medicinal bitterness that defines the drink.
Sweetnessmedium sweetness
The Prosecco adds enough fruity sweetness to balance the bitter bite.
Sournesslow acidity
There is a slight tartness from the wine, but it is not a sour drink.
Strengthlow ABV
This is a light session drink, mostly wine and carbonation.
Refreshingvery refreshing
The heavy ice and soda make this extremely thirst-quenching.
Complexitymoderately layered
It is a simple two-ingredient flavor profile lifted by the bubbles.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Highball · equal parts on Prosecco. Brut or Extra Dry recommended

Before you start

Make sure your Prosecco, Campari, and club soda are well chilled before you start. Pop a glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you have time.

Ingredients

ProseccoBase SpiritChilled90ml
CampariLiqueur60ml
Club SodaSodaChilled30ml
OrangeGarnish1 slice

Garnish: Orange slice

Tools

Jigger · Measuring
Measuring the Campari and Prosecco accurately
At home: Small measuring cup or shot glass
Bar spoon · Mixing
Gently stirring the drink without killing the bubbles
At home: Long dinner knife or chopstick
Highball glass · Serving
Holding the drink, ice, and garnish
At home: Large wine glass

Steps

1
Fill a large wine glass or highball glass all the way to the top with ice cubes. You want a lot of ice so the drink stays cold without getting watered down too quickly.
!Not using enough ice, which makes the drink warm up and go flat fast.
2
Pour 60ml of Campari directly over the ice. It will sink to the bottom and start to chill right away.
3
Add 90ml of Prosecco, pouring it gently down the inside of the glass to keep it from foaming over. The bubbles will mix the drink naturally as you pour.
!Pouring the Prosecco too fast and making it bubble over the rim.
4
Top with 30ml of club soda to add a little extra fizz and dilution. You will see the red and clear layers start to blend together.
5
Slide a bar spoon down the side of the glass and pull the drink up from the bottom once or twice to mix. Stop as soon as the color is even so you don't kill the bubbles.
!Stirring too hard or too long, which makes the drink flat.
6
Take a fresh orange slice and cut a small slit in the center. Slide it right onto the rim of the glass.

Serve

Serve it right away while it is ice cold and the bubbles are lively. A large wine glass is traditional, but any tall glass works fine.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Campari

CampariAperol
Match
Common availability
Campari → Aperol: Sweeter and less bitter, with a brighter orange note.
CampariSelect Aperitivo
Match
Specialty availability
Campari → Select Aperitivo: More rhubarb and slightly more bitter than Campari.

Swap options for Prosecco

ProseccoCava
Match
Common availability
Prosecco → Cava: Drier and crisper, with more yeast and toast notes.
ProseccoDry Champagne
Match
Common availability
Prosecco → Dry Champagne: Much drier and more toasty, adding a luxurious texture.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Aperol Spritz

Aperol is sweeter and less bitter than Campari, making the Aperol Spritz much lighter and more approachable.

Match

The Aperol Spritz is noticeably sweeter and less aggressively bitter, making it an easier sipper for those who do not love bitter flavors.

In common: bubbly, low ABV, bitter-sweet, built drink

Ingredients

Both share

Prosecco, Club Soda, Orange

Only in Campari Spritz

Campari

Only in Aperol Spritz

Aperol

Swapping Campari for Aperol changes the core bitter agent from an intense herbal bite to a sweeter, orange-heavy profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bubbly texture, bitter-sweet backbone, citrus aroma

How Aperol Spritz differs

less bitter, sweeter, lighter color

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Americano

The Americano uses sweet vermouth instead of Prosecco, giving it a darker, richer flavor.

Match

The Americano feels heavier and more like a cocktail, while the Spritz is lighter and more wine-like.

In common: bitter-sweet, low ABV, bubbly

Ingredients

Both share

Campari, Club Soda, Orange

Only in Campari Spritz

Prosecco

Only in Americano

Sweet Vermouth

Swapping Prosecco for sweet vermouth removes the fruity wine notes and adds dark, spiced, and herbal flavors.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bitter Campari bite, effervescence from soda, citrus garnish

How Americano differs

darker flavor, richer mouthfeel, more herbal

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Negroni

The Negroni is a stiff, spirit-forward short drink, while the Campari Spritz is a low-ABV long drink.

Match

A Negroni hits much harder with alcohol and botanical complexity, while the Spritz is a diluted, bubbly refresher.

In common: bitter-sweet, Campari-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Campari

Only in Campari Spritz

Prosecco, Club Soda, Orange

Only in Negroni

Gin, Sweet Vermouth

The Negroni replaces the wine and soda with gin and sweet vermouth, concentrating the drink and raising the alcohol significantly.

Flavor

Shared flavors

dominant Campari bitterness, herbal notes

How Negroni differs

much stronger, no bubbles, more complex botanicals

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The Spritz originated in the Veneto region of Italy during the Austrian occupation, when soldiers diluted local wine with water. Campari, invented in Milan in the 1860s, was eventually swapped in for the bitter component, creating this specific variation.

Era: 1920s
Confidence

Ratios for Spritz drinks vary widely; 3:2:1 is common but equal parts Prosecco and Campari are also frequently used.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use cheap Prosecco since the Campari dominates the flavor.
Chill all the ingredients before making the drink.
Stir gently to keep the carbonation intact.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't stir vigorously or you'll lose the fizz.
Don't use warm ingredients or the drink will taste flat.
Don't skip the orange garnish; it adds essential oils.